Oceanic ridges are extensive submarines extensions found around earth. Along the axis of some segments of the oceanic ridge system are deep down-faulted structures called rift valley. Through this systems magma is continuously discharge from the asthenosphere through gaps in the deep ocean. This behavior have made the ocean to expand throughout millions of years and because of continuous flow of magma, the ocean ridge has help to a permanent renovation of the oceanic floor. This particular renovation has made the ocean ridge to be considerably younger that the continental crust.
The oceanic ridge structure surrounds all major oceans in a way similar to the seam on a baseball and is the longest topographic feature on earth. The ridges have been named based on their locations within the various ocean basins. (Tarbuck, Lutgens, Tasa, 2012)
Accordingly to the encyclopedia Britannica the ocean ridges are “continuous submarine mountain chain extending approximately 80,000 km (50,000 miles) through all the world’s oceans. Individually, ocean ridges are the largest features in ocean basins. Collectively, the oceanic ridge system is the most prominent feature on Earth’s surface after the continents and the ocean basins themselves. In the past these features were referred to as mid-ocean ridges, but, as will be seen, the largest oceanic ridge, the East Pacific Rise, is far from a mid-ocean location, and the nomenclature is thus inaccurate. Oceanic ridges are not to be confused with aseismic ridges, which have an entirely different origin.”
Convergent plate boundary: crustal generation and destruction.
The velocity of creation of new material in the deep ocean, is generally known as the velocity of expansion, is very small and it’s measure in centimeters per year. For a more effective classification of its velocity is subdivided in Fast (>9 cm/yr.), intermediate (5-9 cm/yr.), and slow (1-5 cm/yr.). This new material is formed where upwelling from the mantle generates new oceanic crust. Oceanic ridges consist of layers and piles of newly formed basaltic rocks that are buoyantly uplifted by the hot mantle rocks from which they formed.
Oceanic Ridges offset by transform faults and fracture zones
Between the limits of the two plates the magma ascends to the surface, cools and solidified at the same time the crust begins to separate on both sides of the ridge. In some places around the mid-Atlantic the ridge moves at a speed of 1-5 cm per year, while in the pacific it moves at a faster speed approximate 9 or more cm per year. This changes make rapid modifications in the ocean levels in a geological time scale.
Oceanic ridges are extensive submarines extensions found around earth. Along the axis of some segments of the oceanic ridge system are deep down-faulted structures called rift valley. Through this systems magma is continuously discharge from the asthenosphere through gaps in the deep ocean. This behavior have made the ocean to expand throughout millions of years and because of continuous flow of magma, the ocean ridge has help to a permanent renovation of the oceanic floor. This particular renovation has made the ocean ridge to be considerably younger that the continental crust.
The oceanic ridge structure surrounds all major oceans in a way similar to the seam on a baseball and is the longest topographic feature on earth. The ridges have been named based on their locations within the various ocean basins. (Tarbuck, Lutgens, Tasa, 2012)
Accordingly to the encyclopedia Britannica the ocean ridges are “continuous submarine mountain chain extending approximately 80,000 km (50,000 miles) through all the world’s oceans. Individually, ocean ridges are the largest features in ocean basins. Collectively, the oceanic ridge system is the most prominent feature on Earth’s surface after the continents and the ocean basins themselves. In the past these features were referred to as mid-ocean ridges, but, as will be seen, the largest oceanic ridge, the East Pacific Rise, is far from a mid-ocean location, and the nomenclature is thus inaccurate. Oceanic ridges are not to be confused with aseismic ridges, which have an entirely different origin.”
Convergent plate boundary: crustal generation and destruction.
The velocity of creation of new material in the deep ocean, is generally known as the velocity of expansion, is very small and it’s measure in centimeters per year. For a more effective classification of its velocity is subdivided in Fast (>9 cm/yr.), intermediate (5-9 cm/yr.), and slow (1-5 cm/yr.). This new material is formed where upwelling from the mantle generates new oceanic crust. Oceanic ridges consist of layers and piles of newly formed basaltic rocks that are buoyantly uplifted by the hot mantle rocks from which they formed.
Oceanic Ridges offset by transform faults and fracture zones
Between the limits of the two plates the magma ascends to the surface, cools and solidified at the same time the crust begins to separate on both sides of the ridge. In some places around the mid-Atlantic the ridge moves at a speed of 1-5 cm per year, while in the pacific it moves at a faster speed approximate 9 or more cm per year. This changes make rapid modifications in the ocean levels in a geological time scale.
World distribution of mid-Atlantic ridge
References
Oceanic ridge. (2013). In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from http://libproxy.atlantic.edu:2108/EBchecked/topic/424542/oceanic-ridge
Mid-Ocean Ridges and Rifts. (2003). In K. L. Lerner & B. W. Lerner (Eds.), World of Earth Science (Vol. 2, pp. 373-374). Detroit: Gale. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CCX3437800389&v=2.1&u=mays40776&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w&asid=61bb31d18c6f086075fae5c0882fe4d8
Convergent plate boundary: crustal generation and destruction. [Art]. In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from http://libproxy.atlantic.edu:2108/EBchecked/media/3161/Three-dimensional-diagram-showing-crustal-generation-and-destruction-according-to
Transform fault: oceanic ridges offset by transform faults and fracture zones. [Art]. In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from http://libproxy.atlantic.edu:2108/EBchecked/media/110539/Oceanic-ridges-offset-by-transform-faults-and-fracture-zones
World distribution of mid-Atlantic ridge. Wikimedia. Retrieved From http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:World_Distribution_of_Mid-Oceanic_Ridges.gif
Mid-Atlantic Ridge (2011) YouTube. Retrieved November 1, 2013 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgDM6m0lUGY
Guillermo Velasquez